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Bark Park fundraiser Thursday

Wine and cheese afficanaodos, along with dog lovers, have the opportunity to enjoy some libations, savory cheeses and hors d’oeuvres all in the case of giving their K9 friends a place to play this Thursday.

The event is a wine and cheese tasting, silent and live auction, with a cash bar at Marker 107 restaurant to raise funds for the construction of a dog park at Dee Henderson Park in south Bryan County.

Wendy Bolton, president of the Bryan County Bark Park Association came up with idea for a public park for dogs about 18 months ago when she came across a dog park while traveling in North Carolina.

Her family’s dog, Bailey, loved the it. “It was just like taking a small child to the playground,” she said.

“She ran, she played, she didn’t want to leave. I started to think, ‘How do we get this in Richmond Hill?’

“It turned out, two other ladies were thinking the same thing — Jane Honnor and Lesley Francis,” Bolton says. “We started finding out if people wanted a dog park, and in no time, we had 1,500 signatures on petitions we placed in local businesses.”

The Bryan County Dog Park Association was formed and its members began talking to the county about land.

On April 9, the Bryan County Commission unanimously approved the allocation of 1.5 acres within Henderson Park to be used as the dog park. The land will be formally granted when the association raises $10,000 for the building of fencing and other essential items.

“This is wonderful news and we are confident of reaching our fundraising goals to enable us to start work on the allocated land within Henderson Park, which is a beautiful area alongside water and with plenty of trees,” Bolton says. “We have already received some generous donations and people have been giving their spare change in the collection boxes around town.”

At the wine and cheese event, Jeff’s Beverage will provide the wine and also have wine connoisseur staff on hand to share information about wine selection. For those who prefer not to drink wine, a cash bar will be available.

A range of wines, cheeses and hors d’oeuvres will be available. Local musician Roger Widener will provide music.

Silent and live auctions will feature a variety of items, including spa packages and original artwork. “There are several pieces of beautiful jewelry and gift baskets to pamper humans, as well as pets,” Bolton says.

“The Magnolia Grill is donating shrimp and grits for 25 people, delivered to your home, ready to serve,” she says. “Would that not take the hassle out of a dinner party?”

There is a stay at the Thunderbird Inn in Savannah combined with a trolley tour, plus a combination of gift certificates into one package called “A Bite of the Hill.”